We’ve been family National Trust members for years now, if we’re in need of fresh air then their properties are often our go-to destinations. We were looking for somewhere new to visit a few weeks ago, the weather forecast was looking good, and we decided to spend the day exploring the Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire. It’s somewhere I’ve wanted to visit for ages and it really has so much to offer.
There’s a new all-weather car park being built which will make all year round visits much easier, but we managed ok on the grass car park when we visited. There are toilets in the stable block as you enter the property with more toilets in the Old Rectory Restaurant close by too. We can definitely recommend the sandwiches and cake. We had mackerel and beetroot rolls for lunch and there were so good.
Exploring the Wimpole Estate saw us start our visit with a look around St Andrew’s Church. My nine-year-old son seems to admire churches as much as I do. The different designs of the stonework and the stain-glassed windows are always a big draw.
From the church, you can walk around to Wimpole Hall itself, which is a rather magnificent looking building. Parts of the Hall date back to 1640, with various additions taking place over the next one hundred years. It certainly has the wow factor.
You could imagine horse-drawn carriages arriving along the driveaway in days gone by. My son was eager to run around the driveway pretending to be a runaway horse!
The house has some beautifully decorated rooms to explore and we got to watch the conservationists at work looking after just some of the hundreds of books on display. We were all rather fascinated by the washroom with its huge bath and shower cubicle.
As we walked around the outside of Wimpole Hall we had the formal gardens to ourselves and we got to see the parkland beyond.
There are Serpentine Lakes and a Folly beyond the formal grounds but this area is not accessible from within the main property. You can exit the Hall grounds through a side gate and we decided that we’d do that ourselves later in the day. The walled garden looked very impressive.
Even in October, there was colour to be found in the flower borders and we could imagine just how beautiful they would have been earlier in the year.
There were pumpkins to be inspected and lots of running around too.
As well as an impressive apple orchard to explore.
When you spend time exploring the Wimpole Estate, there’s also a farm to enjoy, with access to all the normal animals you would expect to see.
Not far from the farm area we found the Adventure Playground which my son loved exploring.
The parkland itself is a lovely area to wander through and well worth planning into any trip to the Wimpole Estate There’s plenty of space to run free and enjoy at any time of year. My son found ‘troll bridges’ to cross and sheep to say hello to along the way.
With the backdrop of Wimpole Hall, it’s just a beautiful area.
We headed towards the lakes with our end goal being the folly in the distance.
The reflections on the lake were beautiful and the ducks and swans were making the most of the autumn sunshine as we passed by.
As my son ran on towards the Folly, I just knew it wouldn’t disappoint.
Imagine having the money to build a ruined castle. My son loved exploring and it was well worth the walk.
We’d had such a great time exploring the Wimpole Estate, it has so much to offer and it’s definitely somewhere we will be visiting again.
Have you been?
Wow what a treasure of a National Trust property. I’ve not heard of this one before so really enjoyed your post. It looks like you had the estate to yourselves. What a wonderful place, the grounds are stunning and my goodness the manor itself too. #CountryKids
It was so beautiful, we all loved or visit
Wimpole Estate reminds me of Castletown House here in Ireland – a humongous Palladian mansion with vast parklands to explore. Beautiful photos. And as you said, imagine having the money to build a ruined castle!?!
#CountryKids
I know, it’s mad isn’t it
What a lovely day out you had. I love how National Trust membership opens up so many different places to explore. Wimpole Hall is certainly a magnificent looking building and that church is beautiful. The gardens look beautiful even in October and I can imagine that they must have been absolutely stunning earlier in the year. I love that there’s also a farm and a folly to explore too. Lots to pack into a day out. Thank you for sharing it with #CountryKids